CONTROLLED THERMONUCLEAR RESEARCH QUARTERLY REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER 1959

Abstract

Pyrotron Program: Efforts of the Pyrotron group were concerned primarily in four areas: (a) intensive study of plasma injection and trapping into static magnetic fields of various configurations, b) detailed analysis of the data obtained in Table Top experiments, in order to document the existence of a stably confined plasma, (c) additional analysis of the plasma in the P/sup 4/ plasma generator, and (d) ion source, vacuum pumping, and theoretical build-up studies of the ALICE fast neutral atom injection studies. Highenergy Injection: A parameter study of the high-energy molecular-ion injection system was made. The status of the experiment on D/sup +//sub 2/ dissociation at the time it was discontinued is summarized. Astron Program: An initial formulation of the problem of interaction of electron beams of finite size with an irfinite plasma was attempted. The restilts are described briefly, as well as the contemplated steps for the solution of this problem under the parameters and geometry of the E layer. Calculations were extended on the self-consistent field of the E layer, including the slow-down process. For the parameters of interest it appears that a smooth transition from unreversed to reversed field is possible. The design of the 2-Mev accelerator is discussed. The general design was completed for the modified gun, which will provide a 200-amp electron beam, Pinch Program: Work at Livermore is reported on the linear hard-core pinch, small levitron experiment, electron-beam pinch, plasma acceleration, liquid sodium experiment, the 12-inch levitron, high magnetic field research, and theory. The Berkeley work on sheet pinch studies and the homopolar program is summarized. General Studies: Liner power dissipation and liner current as a function of axial position at various magnetic field configurations were measured in the ion magnetron to study the processes of ion loss. Under theoretical research the heating up of electrons in a plasma, scattering loss rate in mirror geometry, and hydromagnetic stability of a tubular pinch are discussed. Basic Experimental Research: Work is reported in the areas of plasma physics and microwave diagnostics, hydromagnetic wave propagation, axial transfer of r-f energy to the center of a magnetic mirror, beam research, and ion source development, Developments in ultra-high vacuum, cryogenic pumping, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering are summarized, (For preceding period see UCRL-8887.) (W.D.M.)